The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin: Reginald Perrin Series, Book 1

Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, the creation of comedy genius David Nobbs, is surely one of the best-loved comedy heroes of our time - in both literature and television. So it is with great pride that Audible presents Reggie's escapades in digital audio for the very first time: we invite you to join him, and the memorable supporting characters who help him along the way, on one man's quest to avoid an everyday existence.

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Publisher's Summary

Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, the creation of comedy genius David Nobbs, is surely one of the best-loved comedy heroes of our time - in both literature and television. So it is with great pride that Audible presents Reggie's escapades in digital audio for the very first time: we invite you to join him, and the memorable supporting characters who help him along the way, on one man's quest to avoid an everyday existence.

Reginald Perrin is sick to death with selling exotic ices at Sunshine Desserts. He's fed up with his boss C.J. who delights in making his life hell. And he's had enough of his eager young assistants who think everything is 'super'. So begins Reggie's battle against consumerism. Driven to desperation by the rat race and the unpunctuality of Britain's trains, Reggie's small eccentricities escalate to the extreme. Until, finally, he leaves behind the unacceptable face of capitalism altogether. Driven off in a motorised jelly, and creating the world's biggest loganberry slick on his way, he dumps his clothes on a Dorset beach and sets off for new adventures....

Having graduated from Cambridge University, David Nobbs entered the army, then tried his hand at journalism and advertising before becoming a writer. A distinguished novelist and comedy writer, Nobbs has written for hit TV comedy shows including The Two Ronnies and created the TV sitcom The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin, adapted from his own Reginald Perrin comedy novels. He lives near Harrogate with his wife Susan.

I don't like to be negative in my reviews but this was a desperately disappointing letdown for me, and as such I feel duty bound to warn others. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is one of my all-time favourite books, and you would expect the person most qualified to do any great novel justice in its narration would be the author himself. Sadly this is not the case. I have learned that reading a story out loud is a skill that requires a sense of the dramatic and a degree of acting ability, and this is why my favourite purchases from Audible all involve professional actors. Unfortunately David Nobbs reads this as if he's pitching a script for the sitcom to a committee. It's as if he's expecting to be interrupted at any point by someone saying 'Thank you Mr Nobbs, we'll be in touch.' I must confess I've only just passed the safari park scene at the time of writing, and maybe if I persist with it his narration will either improve or grow on me, but I rather suspect this is destined to become one of those audiobooks that remains forever unfinished.Sorry David, I have been in awe of your writing brilliance for more than thirty years, but you really should have got somebody else in to create the audiobook. I can think of several actors who would have performed this superbly (although my ultimate choice of Leonard Rossiter would of course have sadly been impossible). This should have made it into my top five but instead it will go down as money wasted.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Marc Lawrence

Blaby, Leicestershire, U.K.

12/15/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Poiniant witty and thought provoking"

Would you listen to The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin again? Why?

A compelling tale of an executive's slide into a mental breakdown and his subsequent realisation that he still loves his wife, there are several insights into Reggie's decent into madness, the storey lines are strong and the comedy is subtle and the situations believable well worth visiting again.

What did you like best about this story?

It follows the television series closely but adds a great deal of incidental detail to the characters.

Which character – as performed by David Nobbs – was your favourite?

Reggie, David brings a warmth and depth to his characterisation of the lead in this book

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was a wonderful easy listen and next time I will do it in one go.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Harrow

inverurie, United Kingdom

11/12/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"exceptional"

If you could sum up The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin in three words, what would they be?

beautifully optimistic tragi-comedy

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin?

Which character – as performed by David Nobbs – was your favourite?

uncle jimmy emerging as a more rounded character towards the end of the novel was wonderful.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

absolutely

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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